Life line projectile



Feb; 2, 1937. M. J. RYAN LIFE LINE PROJECTILE Filed May 13, 1935 MJ. Ryan INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITED ST ATENT OFFICE LIFE LINE PROJECTILE Application May 13,1935, Serial No. 21,108

3 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty 5 thereon.

My invention relates to line throwing means and more particularly to a line carrying projectile, and means from and by which the projectile is propelled.

The invention has various uses and purposes. Its principal purpose is its use as a messenger, for example, for towing a running line or towing hauser from one point to another.

Projectiles of the type previously known and used are inaccurate and short-distanced because of the tumbling of the projectile in flight. This is due to the fact that the previously known projectiles are either too short to afford stability or, if long enough to afford stability, the line is im- 20 properly mounted thereon with relation to the center of gravity.

An object of my invention is the provision of a projectile so designed and balanced as to minimize flight tumbling effects and inclinations. By this accomplishment greater accuracy and greater distance is attained. v

My invention consists of an elongated projectile adapted to be propelled by an explosive, adapted to be discharged from a gun or rifle, and adapted to carry a line from the rear of its center of gravity to insure accuracy in flight and greater range.

Other objects, purposes, and functions of the invention will be set forth in the following description, it being understood that the above general statements are intended to generally explain the same without limiting it in any manner.

In the illustrated application of the invention- Fig. l is a perspective view in side elevation of a gun illustrating the application of a line carrying projectile and a line canister having the characteristics of my invention and by which the invention may be practiced.

Fig. 2 illustrates a projectile, partially in section of the type herein described.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate cross-sections A-A and B-B respectively, of Fig. 2.

Various modifications within the scope of my invention are known to me, but according to that by which I have illustrate-d my invention I provide a projectile I of substantial length having means II for carrying a line from a point rearward of its center of gravity. More specifically, according to the illustrations shown in the drawing, I provide a projectile comprising a nose or head piece I2 of such design and contour as to have a mimimum air resistance and a maximum stability. This nose piece I2 is of material of such weight, as compared to the rest of 5 the projectile, as to travel foremost when in flight.

Its rearward portion is of such diameter as to abut the muzzle I3 of the gun I 4 from which it is to be propelled. Projecting rearward from the nose piece I2 is a push rod I5. The diameter of the push rod I5, of course, must be such as to permit it to be inserted into the muzzle end I3 of the gun barrel. This rod may be integral with or attached to the nose piece I2 by any suitable method such as threads thereon as shown in the drawing. These means may also serve for. adjusting the length of the push rod. The, length of the push rod is to be determined first by the length of the gun barrel and secondly by the compressional chamber-space desired or necessary in the barrel of the gun between the end I6 of the rod and the shell or explosive charge in the breech I! of the gun. The length of this barrel chamber-space must necessarily be determined by its cross-sectional area, compressional force of explosive, weight of the projectile, etc. The distance of flight is governed, primarily, by such calculations.

The line carrying element I I of the projectile consists of a rod or other means attached to the nose piece I2 and adapted to extend back along the outside of the gun barrel, and preferably parallel thereto, to a point beyond the center of gravity of the entire projectile. At a predetermined point beyond the center of gravity the member I I is provided with means I8 and 20 for engaging a line I9. The line carrying member II may be integral with or attached to the nose piece I2 by any suitable means such as the provision of a transverse aperture (adapted to receive the end of the member II) so positioned as to effect a clamping of the end of the member II within the nose piece by screwing the push rod I5 tightly into the nose piece I2.

The means I8 on the ring 20, for engaging the line I 9 to be carried by the projectile, is preferably positioned on the opposite side of the gun barrel from that of the member portion II in order that the weight and pull of the line may aid in balancing the projectile in flight. This 5 arrangement is accomplished by the provision of a ring portion 20 on the end of the member II upon which the means I8, such as an eyelet, for engaging the line may be provided. The ring member 20 is, of course, large enough to pass QE'or-life-lines to imperiled boats or persons. The

over the gun barrel. This ring member functions as a guiding means or stabilizer for the projectile in its flight from the barrel in addition to functioning as a means for carrying the eyelet l8 to the side of the barrel opposite the member portion ll;

A canister 2 I is provided for'the line, to be carried by the projectile, and may be mounted on or attached to the gun in such a way as to readily hold the shot-line in such a position as to' afford the least amount of friction and retardation when paying out. Accordingly, the line should be carefully wound and placed in the canister.

The line is preferably attached to the projectile by loose half hitches in order that some give or elasticity may be provided when the projectile has traveled a sufficient distance to pickup the line and cause it to pay out from the canister.

The line l9 may be of any suitable material, and that may be a matter of choice as to strength, weight, paying resistance, etc.

Thegun barrel is preferably smooth bored or unrifled to prevent a spiral direction to the propectilq'a and thereby prevent a twisting of the i shot-line; in transit.""I-he member H may serve as as i'ght on the gun barrel.

The propelling cha'rge or explosive may be in the Term of ordinary cartridges from which the projectiles have-been removed.

The-inventionherein described has great utility particularly on board vessels. It is frequently diificultor'inadvisable to launch life boats to render-aid tovessels indistress in bad weather. B'y 'the'use of the invention 'a line may be shot tto a disabled vessel and when the line once spans the space between the vessels it may be employedtolhaul, from one vessel to the other, a towing hawser or thelike. Similarly the invention may be employed to shoot lines to shore invention may have various other uses such, for example, as line=spanning mountainous territories or cliffs, line-spanning limbs or branches of trees in lumbering, timbering, or tree pruning.

While I have described certain embodiments of" my invention it is neither to be restricted to the particular embodiments described nor to be limited by the descriptions thereof except as defined by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. A projectile adapted to be discharged from the barrel of a gun comprising a nose piece adapted to extend from the muzzle of a gun barrel, a push rod attached axially to said nose piece and adapted to fit within and be discharged from a gun barrel, a line towing rod spaced parallel along one side of the axial push rod and having its forward end attached to the base portion of said nose piece, means extending from the rear end of said towing rod to a point on the opposite side of the push rod from that of the towing rod for attaching a line, whereby the weight of the towed line is counterbalanced in flight by the towing rod.

2. A projectile having a nose piece adapted to be positioned exteriorly of a gun barrel, a push rod axially carried by the nose piece and adapted to fit within the barrel of a gun and be propelled by the discharging forces of a gun, a line towing rod-like member substantially parallel to the push rod adapted to be clamped at one end to the base portion of the nose piece by the push rod', said line towing member having a transverse portion at its rear end which extends to a point on the opposite side of the push rod from which point the members are adapted to tow a line which is counterbalanced by the weight of the opposed towing rod, said transverse portion being rearward of the longitudinal center of gravity of the projectile.

3. A line carrying projectile comprising a nose piece, a stem attached axially to said nose piece, a rod like member extending from the base portion of said nose piece parallel to said stem at one side thereof and having transverse means at the rear end thereof for attaching a towing line at a point opposite said stem, whereby the force of the offset mass of the rod-like member opposes the counter-force of the towed line and maintains a normal trajectory of the projectile during flight.

MICHAEL J. RYAN. 

